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New Delhi: Amid criticism over skipping Test matches, Aakash Chopra has come out in defence of Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and has warned against pushing him into early retirement. The former India batter compared the ace fast bowler to the Kohinoor diamond, while urging fans and experts not to go overboard in their criticism of the Indian pacer for skipping Test matches.

Bumrah has been picking and choosing Test matches due to workload management, as he has constantly struggled with back issues in the last few years. The senior pacer played only three of the five Tests in the recently concluded Test series against England to manage his workload. However, the pacer has received criticism from many for missing the final 5th Test despite India trailing 2-1 in the series.

Bumrah played the first Test against England at Headingly in Leeds, before missing the second game at Edgbaston. He returned to the playing XI for the third Test at Lord’s and also played the 4th Test in Manchester. Bumrah missed the final fifth Test at the Oval owing to his workload management. Mohammed Siraj’s heroics on the final day helped India pull off a miraculous victory on Day 5 at The Oval to draw the series 2-2.

Recently, Chopra came out in defence of Bumrah and urged fans and experts not to subject him to criticism over handpicking Test matches. The former Indian batter said the pacer remains invaluable to the Indian team across formats and shouldn’t be forced into early retirement due to constant criticism.

“There is no bowler like Bumrah. Don’t push him forcibly towards early retirement because he is 24-carat pure gold. He is the Kohinoor diamond. The longer he plays, the better it is. I don’t think he will play too much Test cricket, but for however long he plays, I would say hold onto it,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Chopra further stressed that Bumrah is a special player and that it is not unusual to rotate fast bowlers in a long Test series to ensure their workload is managed properly. He urged the Indian team management to support Bumrah in keeping his workload in check and play him whenever he is available.

“I will be honest, I don’t think he will play all the Test matches. He is going to pick and choose. Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s not a moral or ethical debate, is what I think. If you have a player of that level available, play him whenever he can. Jasprit Bumrah, as a bowler, you can adjust the bowling combination very easily. It doesn’t make a difference. If Bumrah had been a batter, a No. 4 or an opener, and had said that he would play two matches and won’t play after that, then it’s a problem. Bowlers need to be rotated in any case in a series of three or four Tests,” he added.